PFLAG Nashville President Celebrates Military Pride

Today we hear from Kathy Halbrooks, the President of PFLAG Nashville, and the Tennessee State Coordinator.

I had the pleasure of attending the Second Annual NSA Mid-South LGBT celebration on June 26 in Millington, Tennessee. The keynote speaker was Master Chief Tim McVeigh, the first person to win a case against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Master Chief McVeigh was reinstated but was not treated respectfully overall. After being given the option to retire at the rank to which he had been promoted, he took early retirement. He didn’t have a retirement celebration, so the event at Millington, cake and all, served as a very late celebration for him. He was presented a flag that had been flown over his base at Pearl Harbor. The flag ceremony was incredibly moving, and I cried throughout.

The day was a wonderful tribute to how much the military has improved and grown in the treatment of lesbians and gays. I’m proud of the base because, even though trans people can’t serve in the military, a young trans man took part. His father served in the military. The whole event was one of the most amazing celebrations I’ve ever attended, and I was honored to be there.